Any trip deserves at least some thought about what was learned from the experience. On a really high level, I learned I need to pack lighter and go slower.
Ok, so I (and most of my friends) already knew I had a problem with packing too much stuff. Always have and probably always will. I’ll continue to work on that.
Due to time restrictions beyond our control, we chose to zip along interstates going out and coming back in order to have more time in the Four Corners area. Even then, there was a lot more adventure to be had in those states, as well as in the states we zipped through on the slab. We found the more enjoyable roads to ride were ones that didn’t necessarily get us to Point B the fastest or shortest way.
I personally would prefer to take trips at a pace that allowed me to at least make notes about what I had done each day, if not actually write a journal entry about it. Too many memories are forgotten in the rush of excitement when you’re going at it from the time you get up until the time you crash at night. It’s amazing we managed to take the pictures we did.
A couple of camping gear adjustments stand out that will help with a lighter load. One is a down sleeping bag that will compress smaller than my venerable synthetic 20-degree bag. Another is a 4 person tent that can double as a sturdy tent in a storm as well as a roomy bug shelter for times when the insect population wants to join us for dinner. The mesh bug shelter I took along was too big and redundant.
We both carried white gas stoves for cooking, with the thought that we could just use gasoline for fuel if we ran out. I had not used my stove in a few years and didn’t check it out before the trip. Of course, the first time I pulled it out on the trip I discovered that the fuel line had developed a leak. My stove was useless excess baggage from that point on. We didn’t even need to use the fuel in my stove’s fuel bottle because Brian’s tank of fuel was enough for all the cooking we did. Lesson learned – check your gear if you haven’t used it in a while! I’ll also just bring along my isobutane stove next time. It’s so much easier to use.
Rain gear for motorcycling also seems to be an area where I can make improvements. Especially for hot weather riding. The mesh, armored gear is ok for the heat, but having a lightweight way to add rain protection would help. I carried a backpacking parka and put it on over my mesh armored jacket, but I had problems with the parka billowing. I tried putting the parka on under the jacket once, but it was too bulky for that. An extra armored raincoat or pants takes up too much space. I’m thinking Frogg Toggs or something similar might be the trick. A thin outer layer to put over mesh armored pants should work ok, but I’m not sure about a thin layer over the armored jacket. I might still have billowing issues. Once the weather cools down a bit, my Olympia AST armored jacket is vented enough to be all-things-in-one, but that weather may be another 2 months away.
After riding Brian’s bike I have decided the windscreen on my bike contributes to the wind buffeting on my helmet. I’ve tried adding spacers to get more air under the stock windscreen, but that isn’t enough. I will try a Madstad bracket (to get adjustability options) and a bigger windscreen next.
My seat can also be improved upon. The stock DL650 seat is much maligned in VStrom circles, and that’s what I have. The Beadrider seat cover helped some, but I’m thinking a higher, flatter seat is what I need. I hear the DL1000 seat or the tall touring version of the DL1000 seat may offer me that difference. I’ll start there before I go the way of the very expensive custom seats.
The most important thing to do is get back out and do another trip. It’ll have to just be a weekender, but that’s ok.
If I head to the mountains I can find some cooler air, and pretty scenery, and ….
